LUMIX® S3 14.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

DMC-S3

Features

Introduction

Are you a new photographer looking to get more from your photos and videos? Do you want an entry level camera that’s portable, easy to use and affordable? The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-S3 is the device you’ve been looking for. With an impressive 14.1-megapixel sensor, 720p high-def video recording, a 4x optical zoom, Venus Engine VI image processor, 2.7-inch LCD display screen and a fresh new look, the S3 offers all the essentials for budding photographers.

There is nothing basic about the features of this camera, which include Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection and Intelligent Scene Selection. Sleek and stylish, the S3 is available in black, blue, red and violet.

Technology

28mm Wide-angle 4x Optical Zoom Lens: The S3 comes equipped with a powerful and newly developed 28mm wide-angle LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 4x optical zoom. This advanced lens is comprised of six elements in five groups including three aspherical lenses with five aspherical surfaces. It delivers superior optical performance from a slim, compact body. Easily capture large groups of people or vast impressive landscapes with rich perspective and dynamic breadth, even when shooting from close to the subject.

4x Optical Zoom / Up to 8.4x Extra Optical Zoom: The 4x optical zoom lens and Extra Optical Zoom function engage the middle part of the CCD to extend the standard 4x zoom ratio to an impressive 8.4x zoom at 3-megapixel or less resolution. By adding the Extra Optical Zoom, it’s possible to extend the S3s total zooming power up to 33.8x.

14.1-megapixel High-resolution CCD: Images remain clear and crisp, even when enlarged, thanks to the 14.1-megapixel high-resolution CCD. The S3 supports images as large as A2 size (594 x 420mm), big enough to show a newborn or an adult’s head and chest in real-life size, all with exceptional sharpness and clarity. Ordinary-sized photographs are reproduced beautifully as well, at just 3-megapixels. No matter what size the photo, images can be cropped or trimmed in any way, right from the camera.

Sonic Speed AF: Panasonic’s Sonic Speed Auto Focus system has been re-engineered by the DMC-S3. Upgrades include enhancements like a faster actuator, optimized algorithms and more powerful software processing. The result is dramatically faster focusing (as much as 45% faster than previous models) and incredibly accurate AF performance. Sonic Speed AF makes it possible to capture subjects in motion, action shots, sports scenes and fast action of any kind.

Quick AF: Another popular auto focus feature is Quick AF, which enables nearly instantaneous focusing on active, mobile subjects such as children and animals. Ordinary auto focus on some cameras is engaged only when the shutter is pressed down half-way; users must continue to lightly press the shutter to focus the camera appropriately before going for a shot. With Quick AF, focus is engaged as soon as the S3 is pointed at a subject and stays locked in place until the picture is taken. Shutter delay time is significantly reduced, so even action shots come out sharp and focused.

Venus Engine: The powerful, efficient Venus Engine uses cutting-edge signal management to deliver gorgeous images, particularly when sensitivity is high. Parallel signal processing enables high-speed, high-performance photography and effectively improves the sensitivity and precision of many of the S3s most important image control functions, such as Intelligent ISO Control and MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer. A number of energy-saving improvements let the Venus Engine do more with less power, which helps conserve power and extend battery life.

Higher Image Quality with Advanced Signal Processing: The Venus Engine is also responsible for the S3s superior noise reduction capabilities. Luminance noise and chromatic noise are processed and managed independently; resulting images have minimal noise all the way up to ISO1600 at full resolution, at nighttime or in dim indoor light.

Large, 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCD: The generous 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD display screen reflects the finest details in each photo, making it quick and easy to check focus before shooting, or to accurately review photos immediately after shooting. The screen also serves as a small photo and movie viewer, allowing users to enjoy still and motion playback with friends right on the camera’s LCD.

Functionality

Comfortable Fit: Not only is the S3 compact, it’s been designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand for even greater ease of use. The shutter button is conveniently positioned so you can snap pictures in an instant, and the rounded bottom of the camera body makes for a more ergonomic handling experience. The unit is small and lightweight, so it can go where you go, whether you slip it into a pocket, handbag, backpack or carry-on. The stylish array of colors makes the S3 this season’s must-have for great looking photos and videos no matter what you’re up to.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode: One of Panasonic’s most popular LUMIX features is Intelligent Auto Mode. With iA Mode, you never have to worry about getting the right settings for excellent images; the S3 does all the work for you! You’ll be able to take amazing pictures just like the pros and capture all those spur of the moment photo opportunities at the touch of a button. iA gives you incredible image quality each and every time; you just point and shoot. Four different detection and correction functions are engaged simultaneously to optimize the camera settings so you get stunning results with virtually no effort.

MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) – Shake Detection: It can be difficult to hold your camera steady while trying to frame a shot and press the shutter at the same time, and shooting in low light is really tricky; more often than not you end up with photos that are underexposed and blurry. Luckily, the DMC-S3 has MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer to compensate for the shaking and sudden shifts in light that can cause blurry images. MEGA O.I.S automatically detects hand-shake and corrects the problem by shifting the appropriate lens components. All of this happens instantly and the image itself is never, ever compromised or subject to deterioration. You simply get clear, sharp photos, even in dim lighting, nighttime, Macro Mode or zoom. No previous experience is necessary.

Intelligent Scene Selector Scene Detection: Unless you’re a professional photographer, it can be frustrating to try to figure out which camera scene mode will give you the best results. With the Intelligent Scene Selector on the S3, you can forget about making manual adjustments when shooting conditions change. The Scene Selector automatically assesses ambient lighting, focus and brightness levels, and sets the most suitable scene mode: Scenery, Night Scenery, Portrait, Night Portrait, Sunset or Macro. You’ll have the freedom to take pictures anywhere, at any time, without ever having to consider or compensate for changing conditions. This makes the S3 ideal for travel photography, where you may find yourself going from a sunny beach, to a dimly lit museum or a dark nightclub, all in the same day. Intelligent Scene Selector ensures you won’t miss a moment.

Intelligent ISO Control Motion Detection: The Intelligent ISO Control feature, made possible by the Venus Engine image processor, picks up movement and light conditions and automatically adjusts the ISO setting accordingly. When you want to shoot a subject in motion, like a running child or a baseball player in mid-swing, Intelligent ISO Control raises the ISO setting to increase shutter speed and prevent motion blur. When you want to shoot a still subject, like a vase of flowers or a sleeping baby, Intelligent ISO lowers the setting for stunning, natural images. Just one more way the LUMIX DMC-S3 gives you the power to take incredible photos with ease.

Face Detection AF/AE: One of the best parts of taking pictures is capturing the smiling faces of the ones you love. Face Detection lets you do just that with fully optimized focus and exposure for natural-looking portraits time and again. The system automatically detects faces in the frame and adjusts camera settings for optimum light and sharpness. Faces are never blurry, and images are always focused on the people you want to photograph, not objects in the background or foreground. Face Detection even prevents the darkening of faces that can happen when you take pictures inside or against a backlight. The system can pick out up to 15 faces at a time, even if someone is turned sideways, making the S3 a great camera for taking group shots. There’s also a handy Face Tracking feature that follows faces as they move so you can capture the moment when it’s just right, and a built-in red-eye corrector that fixes that fault right in the camera, to ensure gorgeous portraits. So gather the whole gang together and snap away; with Face Detection on your DMC-S3, there’s no way you won’t get a great shot!

HD Movie Recording: If live action is more your style, the S3 does not disappoint. The 1280 x 720 HD video recording capability lets you record and store movie files in Motion for easy saving and sharing. The S3 even compensates for low lighting, offering bright motion-image recording in low light.

View Photos on a Large-screen HDTV: There’s no better way to share your fantastic vacation or wedding photos than on the big screen. The DMC-S3 is compatible with any Panasonic VIERA HDTV via the SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card or with any wide-screen HDTV via a standard USB cable. Photos are displayed in 16:9 HD and fit perfectly on your wide screen.

PHOTOfunSTUDIO Version 6.0: PHOTOfunSTUDIO Version 6.0 allows you to get the most out of your pictures and videos. Sort and organize images you’ve recently taken with your S3 or older photos you’ve stored on your computer. The software starts up quickly and images are imported in seconds. The same Face Recognition function that makes it possible to take great portraits also lets you quickly and easily sift through pictures based on faces, sorting them by the individual faces in the picture. If you’ve got kids, you know what a lifesaver this can be; imagine finally getting all of your old photos organized! You can even upload photos to Facebook and videos to YouTube through the PHOTOfunSTUDIO software.

Direct Print with PictBridge: PictBridge streamlines the photo printing process by letting you print your best pictures from your camera directly to a compatible printer. You can control the picture size, layout, date stamp and other settings right from the camera before you print, and you can also make several prints of a single picture, or print just a handful of pictures out of a larger batch.

Create Slideshows: You can choose from pre-loaded Natural, Swing, Slow or Urban music if you’re using the S3, or select your favorite songs from your iTunes library if you create your slideshow with PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0. Either way, you can play around with transition effects and different photos for a one-of-a-kind presentation guaranteed to bring smiles. What better way is there to convey the memories of your latest vacation to an audience of family and friends?

Date Stamp: Anyone that has ever tried to organize a large batch of photos shot over a long time period knows what a hassle it can be to try to remember every date and occasion. Now it’s easy thanks to the S3s date stamp feature. Embed the date on your digital files or have it printed on your photos. Creating a photo album or scrapbook of that special event or occasion is easier than ever before.

Built-in Memory 70MB: Continue taking great pictures even after your memory card fills up; they’ll be stored on the S3s 70MB internal memory. You can copy the pictures to storage media, your computer or an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card later on. You can also transfer pictures from your computer or memory card right to the camera and take them with you wherever you go. Capturing all the best moments from your vacation, school field trip, long weekend away or day at the beach, is fun and stress-free because you never have to worry about running out of storage space.

Extended Battery Life: This camera copes with up to 250 shots on a single charge of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so you can keep the fun going for longer.

Summary

If you’re looking for a compact, functional camera that’s easy to use and priced just right, it’s time to stop looking, you have found it! The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-S3 has the advanced features you expect from one of the world’s leaders in electronics with the intuitive control and ease of use of much more expensive models.

Reviews

DMC-S3 is rated
3.4 out of
5 by
3.

Rated 3 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
system error (zoom)I received this camera as a gift. I was happy with the size of the camera, and the camera seemed easy enough to use. Within a month, however, the camera stopped working. Everytime I turn it on I receive a system error message. I tried removing the battery and turning it back on as Panasonic recommends, but that didn't work. I can send the camera to Panasonic for repairs, but I'm guessing that will cost about the same as just replacing the camera. Very disappointed.

Date published: 2011-11-22

Rated 4 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
Good Camera Overalll!Obviously not the best camera out there but for being a pretty reasonable price it was a great camera! Flash worked so well in times of need , and the battery life is great! Also great quality. Not the best, but definetly more then your average camera.

Date published: 2011-11-18

Rated 3 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
Get what you pay forI purchased this camera and it seems to take decent pictures and video for the price point. There are one or two things that are pretty bad even considering the price.
The main issue is that this camera has no USB port! Please beware that this camera uses a proprietary cable and plug on the camera side to connect to your computer.
The second issue is the body finish. It is ultra high gloss and just from opening the package got completely covered in ugly fingerprints that you will not be able to to do much about.
Ultimately, even though it is under $100, I wouldn't recomend it.

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Service Request - If you need a product repaired and is NOT a TV, Microwave, Vacuum, or Massage Chair, you can use our Online Repair Request. There, you will be able to get a repair estimate, pay online, and track the repair status.

I am a professional photographer who is seriously considering switching to the Lumix mirrorless cameras. Does Panasonic have, or can you suggest, a web site that demonstrates how professional photographers are successfully using the Lumix professional cameras?

In conjunction with our Panasonic.com web site, our Sales and Marketing team also runs LUMIXLOUNGE.COM This site features work from Panasonic’s Luminary team of professional photographers who have migrated to the Lumx mirrorless cameras. The site also features schedules to live on-line and dealer events as well as convenient links to our latest firmware updates. Additional features to expand the site are already in progress.

Have more questions concerning your Panasonic camera?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

How do I install firmware in my camera using an SD card?

Digital Still Camera Firmware Update Guide.

1) Preparation before attempting the update.

A. Make sure the camera's battery is completely charged. If the battery is not completely charged the firmware update will not begin. Format the SD memory card in the camera, then take a couple of pictures.

B. Turn off the camera.

2) Copying the Firmware to your memory card.

A. Download the latest firmware update for your model by clicking on the "Download Ver. X.X " link to a location on your computer (we recommend the "Desktop").

E."Drag" to Copy and Paste" the .bin file from the opened folder to the drive with the SD Card showing in your"My Computer" window for"PC" users and"Finder" or"Drive" in Macs. This will copy the file to the card.

F. If you choose to leave the SD Card in your camera, connect the camera to the PC with the USB cable. Turn the camera on and set it to"Playback" mode. Then select"PC" on the LCD screen. Drag the .bin file from the opened folder to the device that either says Panasonic or mass storage to complete the transfer.

G."SDXC cards, 32GB or larger, require special card readers. Depending on your PC, and the age of its operating system, you may not be able to directly write to such large cards. If your PC asks you to format the card, DO NOT, this is one indication that your system is not compatible with the newer larger memory cards. In this case a smaller card, 16GB or smaller should be used.

3) Updating the camera's firmware.

A. Turn the Camera off, insert the SD Card if you copied the firmware to the card while inserted into the computer.

B. Turn the Camera power on and press the"Playback" button. The camera's LCD screen should now be showing a screen asking if you desire to"Update" the firmware. Highlight"Yes" and press the"Menu/Set" button.

C. When the Camera has completed the firmware update it will turn itself off and then back on.

D. This completes the update process.

4) Confirming the update.

A. Turn the camera's power back on.

B. Set to"Playback" Mode.

C. Choose the"Setup" menu.

D. Select Version Disp.

Digital Still Camera Firmware Update Guide.

1) Preparation before attempting the update.

A. Make sure the camera's battery is completely charged. If the battery is not completely charged the firmware update will not begin. Format the SD memory card in the camera, then take a couple of pictures.

B. Turn off the camera.

2) Copying the Firmware to your memory card.

A. Download the latest firmware update for your model by clicking on the "Download Ver. X.X " link to a location on your computer (we recommend the "Desktop").

E."Drag" to Copy and Paste" the .bin file from the opened folder to the drive with the SD Card showing in your"My Computer" window for"PC" users and"Finder" or"Drive" in Macs. This will copy the file to the card.

F. If you choose to leave the SD Card in your camera, connect the camera to the PC with the USB cable. Turn the camera on and set it to"Playback" mode. Then select"PC" on the LCD screen. Drag the .bin file from the opened folder to the device that either says Panasonic or mass storage to complete the transfer.

G."SDXC cards, 32GB or larger, require special card readers. Depending on your PC, and the age of its operating system, you may not be able to directly write to such large cards. If your PC asks you to format the card, DO NOT, this is one indication that your system is not compatible with the newer larger memory cards. In this case a smaller card, 16GB or smaller should be used.

3) Updating the camera's firmware.

A. Turn the Camera off, insert the SD Card if you copied the firmware to the card while inserted into the computer.

B. Turn the Camera power on and press the"Playback" button. The camera's LCD screen should now be showing a screen asking if you desire to"Update" the firmware. Highlight"Yes" and press the"Menu/Set" button.

C. When the Camera has completed the firmware update it will turn itself off and then back on.

D. This completes the update process.

4) Confirming the update.

A. Turn the camera's power back on.

B. Set to"Playback" Mode.

C. Choose the"Setup" menu.

D. Select Version Disp.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

My camera won't power on. What can I do?

If you have a second battery, try it to see if you can power on the camera. If you dont have an extra battery and you're sure the battery you have is fully charged then the camera may need to be serviced.

Please include your name, address, telephone number, email address, copy of your purchase receipt (for warranty service), and a description of what is wrong with the unit. Freight collect shipments will not be accepted.

Panasonic is not responsible for damage that occurs in transit. All contents should be packaged for safe travel to the service center. Customer should use a reputable small package shipping company that is able to provide a package tracking number and insurance (if customer should so desire to insure their package).

Units that are abused, damaged, infested with insects, have corrosion, etc. will be placed out-of-warranty.

Once your unit arrives at the facility, you may contact us for status at:

Note: Please reference your Service Job number when contacting. You will be contacted if there is any cost you are responsible for.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

How long should my battery last?

CIPA figures which range from 300-400 photos (depending on the camera model). CIPA measurement methods use a very controlled method to measure battery life. The procedure takes a specific number of shots at a fixed interval, with a fixed ratio of flash photos. While this method provides a standardized measurement that can be used to compare two cameras, it's far from how the camera is actually used. Life expectancy can be affected by any of the following: If the flash is used, the total number of photos can decrease by 30-40% If the camera has GPS, you can expect up to a 50% reduction in battery life. If the customer has no immediate need for GPS disable the feature in the camera's menu options. While the battery saver feature will turn the LCD panel off after a preset time (and place the camera into sleep mode) the camera still draws some power from the battery. We suggestion, turn the camera after each shot. At social gatherings, try and minimize passing the camera around the table to have others look at the photos. The LCD panel consumes ~30% of the total power.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Why do I have spots on some of my photos?

Spots can occur due to dust or dirt inside the lens, or when flash is used in a very dusty environment.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

What size SD Card can I use in my camera?

Cameras with a manufacturing date of 2006 or before can only use Standard SD Cards (2GB Max). Models manufactured from 2007 to 2009 can only use Standard SD Cards and SDHC Cards (32GB Max). Cameras manufactured 2010 and later are also compatible to the SDXC memory card format. While your camera?s owner?s manual may state a maximum size, that size was the largest that was available when your camera was manufactured. Any currently available SDXC card, which will eventually increase to maximum of 2 TB is compatible. As the maximum size increases, to 2 TB, we do not anticipate any need for firmware updates.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Why am I unable to view the photos on my camera after I have deleted some files from the SD card using the computer?

It is not recommended that you delete or modify any photos on your SD memory card using your PC if you plan to move them back to the camera. Doing so can damage the file allocation table and your camera will not be able to read the files. You should immediately copy the remaining photos from your SD card to your PC. After doing so, using your camera, reformat the SD card.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

What should I do to correct a "System Error Zoom", "System Error Lens", or "System Error Focus" message on my camera?

We recommend you try removing the battery from the unit for approximately 60 seconds and reinstall the battery. If you still receive the "System Error *****" message you will want to consider having the camera serviced.

Please include your name, address, telephone number, email address, copy of your purchase receipt (for warranty service), and a description of what is wrong with the unit. Freight collect shipments will not be accepted.

Panasonic is not responsible for damage that occurs in transit. All contents should be packaged for safe travel to the service center. Customer should use a reputable small package shipping company that is able to provide a package tracking number and insurance (if customer should so desire to insure their package).

Units that are abused, damaged, infested with insects, have corrosion, etc. will be placed out-of-warranty.

Once your unit arrives at the facility, you may contact us for status at:

Note: Please reference your Service Job number when contacting. You will be contacted if there is any cost you are responsible for.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

There are vertical/horizontal lines in my LCD screen. What do I do?

If you have a second battery, try it to see if you can power on the camera. If you dont have an extra battery and you're sure the battery you have is fully charged then the camera may need to be serviced.

Please include your name, address, telephone number, email address, copy of your purchase receipt (for warranty service), and a description of what is wrong with the unit. Freight collect shipments will not be accepted.

Panasonic is not responsible for damage that occurs in transit. All contents should be packaged for safe travel to the service center. Customer should use a reputable small package shipping company that is able to provide a package tracking number and insurance (if customer should so desire to insure their package).

Units that are abused, damaged, infested with insects, have corrosion, etc. will be placed out-of-warranty.

Once your unit arrives at the facility, you may contact us for status at: